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A drainage divide, '''water divide''', or simply '''divide''' is the separation between neighbouring Drainage Basin s (catchments). In hilly country, the divide lies along Topographical Peaks and Ridge s, but in flat country or on a high plateau (especially where the ground is marshy) the divide may be invisible - just a more or less notional line on the ground on either side of which falling raindrops will start a journey to different rivers, and even to different sides of a country or continent.
Drainage divides are important Geographical , and often also Political , Boundaries . Roads and Rail Tracks often follow divides to minimise Grades (or Gradients) and the need for bridges.

A divide is also known as:
  • traditionally, a watershed; in North America this term is old-fashioned or nontechnical, since it usually refers to the Drainage Basin ;

  • a water parting;

  • a height of land (in Canada).



TYPES OF DRAINAGE DIVIDE

Drainage divides can be grouped in three types:
  • and Congo divide)

  • Major drainage divide — The waters on each side of the divide never meet again, but do flow into the same ocean (example: the divide between the Yellow River basin and the Yangtze )

  • Minor drainage divide — The waters part but eventually meet again at a river confluence (example: the Mississippi and Missouri divide)


Drainage divides are a hindrance to River Navigation . In pre-industrial times water divides were crossed at Portage s. Later Canal s were built to connect the adjoining drainage basins.